Princeton officials, AvalonBay trying to work out solution for former university site

FILE PHOTO: Exterior of the former University Medical Center at Princeton, at the corners of Leigh Avenue and Whitherspoon Street in Princeton. TIMES OF TRENTON

PRINCETON — A possibly new housing plan for the former University Medical Center at Princeton site on Witherspoon Street could include up to five separate buildings, some townhouses, open space, a smaller pool and green design standards, the planning board said last night.

Last night the planning board unanimously elected to follow the lead of council by allowing its legal team to pursue a consent order process that could lead to a resubmission of AvalonBay’s application to build a 280-unit development including 56 units of affordable housing.

Previous plans were rejected and the new concept could have different building configurations with setbacks and building heights designed to minimize neighborhood opposition to the large-scale housing project. The new application could be submitted to the town as soon as May 15, planners said last night.

Board members said that they were encouraged by the new concept brought forth by AvalonBay, who first reached out to the town in early March to see if town officials would be willing to meet and possibly find some way to find an agreement and end litigation.

AvalonBay sued the town and planning board in February after the board rejected its first plan for the hospital site late last year. The consent order would effectively suspend litigation until the board ruled on the resubmitted plan. Should it pass, the litigation would be dismissed.

“There is no proposal on the table at the present time, but there have been a series of meetings, and in those meetings AvalonBay made the point they have heard the community,” planning board and council member Bernie Miller said. “They (AvalonBay) consider the project to be important as part of their portfolio. Their goal is to try and find a common ground.”

Throughout March and early April town and AvalonBay representatives met four times to discuss concept plans brought forth.

Miller said that within those concept plans were ideas to build as many as five buildings, including two larger ones and some townhouses, a road parallel to Witherspoon Street that would cut through the development, varied building heights, with the tallest moved away from the street, open space and the possibility of a smaller pool or different water feature with a smaller courtyard.

He also added that AvalonBay has committed to efficient Energy Star certification building standards.

“In concept what AvalonBay has been talking about is trying to integrate the development into the existing neighborhood,” Miller said.

Jenny Crummiller, planning board and council member, said she was encouraged by the concepts.

“When I went in and viewed the plans being discussed, I really feel hopeful we’ll have a positive outcome,” she said. “I could really see the influence of the community in the designs we were shown.”

AvalonBay’s previous application met hefty public criticism during lengthy public hearings last year.

Alexi Assmus, a member of Princeton Neighborhoods for Sustainable Neighborhoods and a critic of the proposed development, said she was concerned with the time frame for review of any new application and hoped there would be enough time for public input.

The process would go as such: AvalonBay would submit an application by May 15, the town’s engineer would have 15 days then to assess the project for completeness, another 15 days would be allotted for staff review, and 75 days for planning board review.

The tentative dates for the planning board’s review would be June 27, July 11, July 18 and July 25.